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Do you mix with different age groups?

(51 Posts)
Cabbie21 Tue 03-Sept-24 13:53:36

Apart from family, and my youngest GC is 16, I seem to mix only with people who are of retirement age. Church, choirs, and of course u3a are mainly or exclusively populated by older people.
Do you have any ways of mixing with younger people?

aonk Wed 04-Sept-24 13:05:30

Before my GC started school I used to take them to playgroups where I met their parents and also the volunteer helpers. The GC are too old for this now but I still see the parents at the shops and we stopped for a chat. I was a volunteer with Homestart UK for many years and really enjoyed the company of young families.

Applegran Wed 04-Sept-24 13:14:37

Apart from family, I have two friends who are young enough - just - to be my children.

Zuzu Wed 04-Sept-24 13:31:57

Me, too, but it's me who's the caregiver. I worked as a flight attendant for the last 10 years of my work life and saw/conversed with 100s of all ages daily/weekly. My husband has had two strokes, we're both retired now, and my world is very small. I have 4 friends living across the US with whom I email monthly or more. Their lives while not necessarily as a caregiver, just retired, are very similar. Come to think of it, 3 of the 4 are caregivers. One is the care receiver, homebound.

DeeAitch56 Wed 04-Sept-24 13:35:59

Other than family all my friends are of a similar age now I’m retired,
Work friendships were just that and bar one none developed in to out of office social friendships. But I don’t think it’s an issue because throughout life people tend to socialise with their own peer groups

Jewelle Wed 04-Sept-24 13:44:16

Yes, I am currently at University with the majority of others in my cohort being aged approximately 23. I get on with them well, but don’t meet up after seminars to go drinking!

I’m also in a group of other oldie students which shines a different light on studying!

Greyisnotmycolour Wed 04-Sept-24 13:59:30

I volunteer in a role that involves home visits and supporting people of all ages. I love it, I get to meet a whole range of lovely people who I'd never cross paths with. Much as I enjoy retirement, I can find it a bit insular, same people, same age, same interests, I like a bit of diversity to shake me out of my bubble. I'd definitely miss it if I had to give it up.

Overthemoongran Wed 04-Sept-24 14:07:59

I missed my younger colleagues when I retired, it was always interesting hearing their points of view on current affairs. I do belong to an evening book group that has young mums as well as us grandmas, and we always have a chat once we’ve finished discussing books.

Dancinggran Wed 04-Sept-24 14:39:21

My group of close friends range from mid 50's to late 60's - I'm the oldest. I am retired but am still an adult leader with Rainbows 4-7year olds, Guides 10-14 and Rangers 14-18 the other leaders in the units range from late 20's upwards. I'm also involved with the Op and Dram Society - rehearsing at present with youngest involved in the production being 10, the oldest aged 80, not all are playing members but our stage staff/props people etc are often there on rehearsal nights and of course the refreshments crew (tea ladies) are there at rehearsals.

IOMGran Wed 04-Sept-24 15:15:06

Nanna58

I’ve got a real mix of friends , I’m 66, got some my age , one in her 80’s some50’s some 40’s and youngest friend 23
I’m friends with a person not an age group by the look of it!

Sounds like me, and you're the same vintage.

Tenko Wed 04-Sept-24 15:56:53

I have friends who are a mix of ages . Old school and college friends who are my age 65.
We are regulars in our village pub , which is the source of one of our friendship groups and they are all ages from 30 to 70 . My book club ranges from 40 to 65. I’m the oldest.
I volunteer in a charity shop with mostly older ladies .
And my yoga group is also mixed .
I think having an open mind is important with mixed ages .

winterwhite Wed 04-Sept-24 16:08:45

No don’t meet much with younger people but had never thought of it as a matter of concern.. maybe they are the losers for not mixing with me.

LaCrepescule Wed 04-Sept-24 16:26:44

I’m nearly always the oldest in whichever group of friends I find myself with (I’m 67.) It’s nice when I find myself mixing with people my own age and older!

Juicylucy Wed 04-Sept-24 17:22:40

I have 3 really good friends who I socialise with often who are 30 years younger than me ( young 68). I have a young out look on life met them when I was working and we’ve remained good friends.

GrannyIvy Wed 04-Sept-24 17:22:49

I hadn’t realised til this thread but all my friends are 60 to 75 age range. All our neighbours are over 60 and retired. So yes I have limited contact with younger people now only family!

4allweknow Wed 04-Sept-24 17:45:50

I'm in a choir with members from 16 years of age, all female. Also in a walking group again mix of ages and sexes. Attend local Heritage, probably half and half older and 30 ups, male and female again.

Quaver22 Wed 04-Sept-24 19:48:57

I volunteer at my local Arts centre. The majority of the volunteers are either pensioners or students so it is a great way to mix with and make friends with young people. The staff who are paid to work there are mostly young and seem to enjoy chatting with us oldies.

CariadAgain Thu 05-Sept-24 07:04:29

Dance seems to be the main way I meet people younger than myself - so I'm early 70's - but tend to say that I have friends in my own agegroup and the late 40's/early 50's agegroup (ie basically the agegroup that match the agegroup of what children would be if I'd chosen to have any - which I didn't). Friends in my own agegroup remember "Normal Times" (ie before the 1990s and certainly before "2020 onwards") and so know how things should be in many ways. I tend to meet the younger agegroup at dance things (Ecstatic Dance and 5 Rhythms and all the illicit beach parties held during Lockdown).

Allsorts Thu 05-Sept-24 07:25:19

Its so nice talking with the young, we need to mix with different age groups but its easy as you get older to just be with people your own age. Time with my grandchildren all working now puts new life into me, i’m going to actively search out mixed age groups so must out my thinking cap on.

Freya5 Thu 05-Sept-24 07:42:21

Always. Life would be boring otherwise. So much to learn from both older and younger age group.

Athrawes Thu 05-Sept-24 10:44:12

I also enjoy chatting to young people. I had some lovely conversations with a 10 year lad recently and a good laugh. My granddaughter and partner live with us and we have a good natter every so often. I also enjoy talking to people of a similar age to me. It's life!

MaggsMcG Fri 06-Sept-24 07:59:02

I'm 72. I joined some Over 50s and Over 60s Facebook groups and meet up with them. I made a travel budy who is 10 years younger and we get on really well. Maybe try that. Or WI.

Gummie Fri 06-Sept-24 10:24:45

Yep always have.

I'm going away with pals this weekend and they are all more than a decade younger than me. The other day I was out with a group and I was the youngster.

It's good for you to have a large variety of age groups in your social circle.

JaneJudge Fri 06-Sept-24 10:29:03

Yes, I mix with all sorts of people smile

sunglow12 Sat 07-Sept-24 09:56:55

I still keep in touch , see a bit old colleagues See some of our sons friends quite a bit , in a uke group with a lot of younger people and a few younger friends as well as older in France so that’s ok and of course my family and grandchildren .

Greyduster Sat 07-Sept-24 10:13:06

My friends are all retired, and most of my immediate neighbours barring one family who still have children at secondary school. The members of the weekly groups I go to are of a similar age. The only time I come into contact with children these days is when I read to them at school twice a week. I enjoy that. Some of them have an interesting perspective on life they are always anxious to pass on😁!